Elections in Armenia

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Elections in Armenia

Winning elections and keeping the win, the Serj way.

Transparancy International anti-corruption center
05.03.2013

http://transparency.am/news.php?id=610&inside=1

Statement of Armenian NGOs in regard with the failure of detection of electoral violations of 2013 presidential elections

On February 18 2013, Armenia held presidential elections that were accompanied with gross violations reported by a numerous organizations and individuals. In this respect, Europe in Law Association and Transparency International Anticorruption Center voice their concern over the reluctance of the Armenian law enforcement bodies to detect criminal cases and the illegal acts tended to conceal the crime.

On 18 February, 2013, the Armenian Non-Governmental Organization Europe in Law Association conducted an observation mission in 14 polling stations in the constituency no 17, which covers the town of Artashat and several of its neighbouring villages. The Europe in Law Association’s team of observers worked in these polling stations together with journalists invited by the organization. In the course of the observation, the Europe in Law Association’s team detected numerous cases of electoral fraud, including ballot-box stuffing, multiple voting, abuse of administrative resource, intimidation of and pressures on observers and journalists. On the day of voting and afterwards, the Europe in Law Association’s observers made several reports to the police, and the Police in Artashat and the Special Investigative Service have instituted criminal cases based on several of our reports.

One of these cases concerns ballot-box stuffing in polling station 17/5 in Artashat. The witnesses of the crime were observer Narine Esmaeli and journalist Artak Hambardzoumyan. Narine is an American citizen of Armenian origin. She has arrived here through an organization called Birthright Armenia and currently does an internship with Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center. In this case, some 25-30 young men stormed into the polling station, held the hands of the observer and the journalist while the secretary of the precinct commission opened the ballot box herself for one of the guys to stuff some 400-500 ballots into it.
This case became subject of examination by the Special Investigative Service by investigator Gorik Hovakimyan. Narine Esmaeili was invited to give testimony, which she did in the presence of Tigran Yegoryan, advocate and member of Europe in Law Association. Investigation was accompanied by aggressive behavior, vocal intimidation and changing of words by the investigator, attempting to hinder the witness’s efforts to provide the true picture of what happened at precinct 17/05 on the Election Day.

Since attorneys are entitled to collect evidence, including by means of recordings under Article 18 of the Law on Advocacy and it was critical to collect evidence on unlawful investigation practice, Tigran Yegoryan recorded the interrogations.

On 1 March, 2013, on the day of cross examination of Narine Esmaeili with the secretary of the precinct electoral commission, the investigator Hovakimyan started an argument with Tigran Yegoryan over the necessity and lawfulness of recording the proceedings. Narine’s representative substantiated his right under Armenian law, while the investigator could not prove the absence of such a right. After arguing with him for about 40 minutes the investigator went out of the room and came back with the Head of the Service, Andranik Mirzoyan who prohibited the representative to record the interrogation in very rude terms by telling one of his investigators (there were 5 of them in the room) to throw his recorder into the toilet. He then did not even wait for his order to be carried out but he himself snatched the recorder from Tigran Yegoryan's hand and threw it into the shelf in that room. Later, one of the investigators took it out secretly and erased the recordings. Nevertheless, part of these recordings are currently at Europe in Law Association’s disposal.

The process of investigation of this particular case indicates the reluctance of the Special Investigative Service to detect the electoral violation and punish the act of crime. Instead, representatives of this entity are engaged in unlawful processes that create obstacles for effective investigation, put pressure on witness and indicate protection of the potential suspect.
The Europe in Law Association and Transparency International Anti-Corruption Centre deplore the unlawful actions of the investigators of the Special Investigative Service and particularly those of Andranik Mirzoyan, the Head of the Special Investigative Service,
We call on the US Embassy in Armenia to interfere and to request assurances from the Armenian government for the security of its citizen Narine Esmaeli.

We further call on the OSCE/ODIHR to pay special attention to the practices of the Armenian law enforcement bodies to investigate and detect the election-related fraud.

We finally call on the Armenian authorities to make sure that all election-related crimes are investigated in a transparent, effective and lawful manner and that the Armenian society is regularly updated on their progress.

Europe in Law Association
Transparency International Anticorruption Center


Transparancy International anti-corruption center
15.03.2013

http://transparency.am/news.php?l=en&id=617&inside=1

Observation made a difference: election results were nullified in 17/5 electoral precinct

By the decision of RA Constitutional Court election results were nullified in 17/5 electoral precinct, and it was suggested that the case materials be sent to prosecutor's office. On February 18, 2013, violation was committed against Narine Esmaeli, Birthright Armenia program participant who currently does an internship with Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center and journalist Artak Hambardzumyan, representative of "Journalists for Human Rights" NGO, who were monitoring elections in 17/5 electoral precinct as part of Europe in Law Association NGO election observation mission. The observer and journalist testified that some 25-30 young men stormed into the polling station, held the hands of the observer and the journalist while the secretary of the precinct commission opened the ballot box herself for one of the guys to stuff some 400-500 ballots into it.

Based on the applications filed by the observer and the journalist Ararat police department of Armenia had sent the materials to Special Investigation Service, where a criminal case was initiated on February 22, 2013.



Transparancy International anti-corruption center
21.03.2013

http://transparency.am/news.php?l=en&id=621&inside=1

TIAC applied to Ethics Commission for High-Ranking Officials

Transparency International Anti-corruption Center NGO (TIAC) applied to Ethics Commission for High-Ranking Officials with a request to examine the compliance of the behavior of Andranik Mirzoyan, the Head of Special Investigation Service (SIS) with rules of ethics for high-ranking officials.

During the voting process on February 18, 2013 U.S. citizen Narine Esmeli, currently an intern with Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center was an observer in Europe in Law Association NGO team, monitoring elections in 17/5 precinct. Narine Esmeli was a witness in a criminal case initiated in SIS based on a report of ballot-box stuffing in the mentioned precinct.

On March 1, 2013, on the day of cross examination of Narine Esmaeili with the secretary of the precinct electoral commission, an argument broke out between the investigator Hovakimyan and attorney Tigran Yegoryan representing Narine Esmeli over the necessity and lawfulness of recording the proceedings. Though the Criminal Procedure Code does not prevent recording during interrogation of the witness, the investigator did not allow the attorney to record the confrontation.

After arguing with the attorney for about 40 minutes the investigator went out of the room and came back with the Head of the Service, Andranik Mirzoyan who prohibited the representative to record the interrogation in very rude terms by telling one of his investigators (there were 5 of them in the room) to throw his recorder into the toilet. He then did not even wait for his order to be carried out but he himself snatched the recorder from Tigran Yegoryan's hand and threw it into the shelf in that room. Later, it turned out that someone had managed to erase the recordings.

In this respect, the Europe in Law Association and Transparency International Anticorruption Center issued a statement on the mentioned incident in press and electronic media (www.hetq.am, www.news.am) deploring the unlawful actions of the investigators of the Special Investigative Service and particularly those of Andranik Mirzoyan, the Head of the Special Investigative Service concerning investigation of the cases on election violations. (http://hetq.am/eng/news/24130/)

On March 6, 2013 SIS issued a statement posted on its official website and released by mass media, where it referenced RA criminal procedure legislation, attempting to substantiate lawfulness of the actions of the Head of SIS and the investigator by claiming the facts on psychological pressure and illegal prohibition of the recording process mentioned in the statement deceitful. Whereas the norms (Article 201, Article 206) they referenced in Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Armenia do not contain provisions on prohibiting to record investigation procedure.

The Republic of Armenia Law on Public Service sets forth Ethics rules for public servants and high-ranking officials, including that they shall "respect and observe the law; contribute by his/her actions to developing trust in and respect for the position he/she holds and the body he/she represents; manifest conduct befitting the position anywhere and in any activity; manifest a respectful attitude towards the persons with who he/she has contacts when exercising his/her powers (Article 28, part 3, par. 1,3,4,5).

It is evident that M. Mirzoyan’s above mentioned conduct manifests a gross violation of rules of ethics for high-ranking officials. It threatens developing trust in and respect for of the body - SIS he represents, in particular regarding objective investigation of the cases on election violation and their detection.

[Vahram]

Re: Elections in Armenia

Is there anyone out there that could read 10 posts of --- and not see the consistent rude and insulting yap yap .

As long as the yap yap comes from the pet it's all fine and good. Don't you dare question it, or your morality will be judged next by the people that are blind by will.

More to the point Artashes, some of these guys have the ballz to put the atabelig and Serj in the same sentence and call themselves patriots! All in defense for the pet, down with Armenia lets save the pet! Where is the puke bucket?

Note before the pets outburst everyone was having a good conversation! Does not matter, litter here litter there, here kitty kitty!

[jgk3]

Re: Elections in Armenia

I also wonder what all the fuss is about when we basically talk about Ataturk's perverted interest towards young boys every chance we get. Of course, regardless of whether this is true or not, in Turkey you could be arrested for mentioning this. I suppose this is the kind of Armenia you would like too?

[Artashes]

Re: Elections in Armenia

Post # 1461 --- and you see none of this ---
Is there anyone out there that could read 10 posts of --- and not see the consistent rude and insulting yap yap .
Dirty hands ??? With such consistent --- and who don't notice for how many years ???
Not surprised . Not at all .
Artashes

[Vahram]

Re: Elections in Armenia

I also seriously question the moral character of those who "joke" in that way about sexual abuse.

So Siggie does this mean you hold bell's moral character in question? As he is the one who started the entire sexuality with younger males in the armed forces.

And it's amazing to claim to be able to recognize bias in others

Yes and then lecture others yourself, while avoiding the pet's indiscretions rings hallow. The man has derailed not just one but many threads yet he is the sinless one here?

Again let me ask you oh wise one who started this sexuality business by claiming "Or is this the secret fantasy of all the Serjolites, to be groped by him? " So all of us have secret fantasies to be molested by Serj? I mean to crack a joke of sexual abuse speaks volumes of his moral character, and you see none of this do you?

Yet when he gets his arse handed to him, you come here and judge the rest of us of our moral character? If you are this blind then you are simply welcome to your opinion of me, but don't stand there as if you hold some kind of moral high ground, it's just another opinion of yours.

Oh yes but the lecture!

[Artashes]

Re: Elections in Armenia

Yeugh, turns my stomach. What's up with that guy - the way he goes around fondling and feeling-up people. He is doing it all the time, in photo after photo after photo. Do we ever see the head-of-state of other nations doing a coochie-coochie-coo with the chins of members of their armed forces?

Or is this the secret fantasy of all the Serjolites, to be groped by him?

Serj is the commander n chief of the armed forces .
Serj is an older man .
On Serj's orders that young man ( kid ) will march into the jaws of death .
Many of those young men are kids .
Your portraying a fatherly gesture as groping & coochie - coo is your style of agitating .
That's the kind of crap I'd expect from a sleeve tabloid . Am not surprised it came from you .
It turns your stomach . Who gives a fk .
Your shallow commentary is more suited to a soap opera or sensational tabloid .
Pathetic commentary of no merit .
Not surprised it came from you .
Artashes

[Siggie]

Re: Elections in Armenia

Insulting others in a language they do not understand is still against the rules. Do not ask that we enforce one rule while you blatantly ignore another.

If you're insulted by someone asking what's with a particular physical gesture, then you're the sensitive one. It's hardly an insult to a nation. How you can even say that with a straight face is beyond me... Personally, in that soldier's place, I would have found that gesture insulting and would have felt condescended upon. So, I don't find asking a question about something one finds unusual or inappropriate to be an insult.

Finally, we regularly *actually* insult the leaders of various nations. To engage in that yourselves or tolerate it from others, but then to act all indignant the moment someone mentions Serj is hypocritical and rather ridiculous.

And it's amazing to claim to be able to recognize bias in others, but then not see it in your own behavior when you call every single even remotely impudent comment by only one member an insult that must be immediately removed, but then regularly engage in far worse transgressions yourself. Had anyone else asked "what's with all the face touching?," I doubt I would be receiving PMs demanding the "offtopic" post be removed.
The worst of the rule-breaking here is by Vahram and Lernakan who are truly making personal insults. I also seriously question the moral character of those who "joke" in that way about sexual abuse.

There's a concept in the law called "unclean hands" that captures the "feel" of this.

[Artashes]

Re: Elections in Armenia

Again you are sugar coating Serj's positon vis a vi the oligarchs.
Its a non statement from your position.

.

We seem to be talking past one another .
I am not sugar coating anything . Neither consciously or sub consciously .
I am expressing my concern about Raffi bluntly .
You keep going back to oligarch problem .
No contact established .
Artashes

[Eddo211]

Re: Elections in Armenia

Yeugh, turns my stomach. What's up with that guy - the way he goes around fondling and feeling-up people. He is doing it all the time, in photo after photo after photo. Do we ever see the head-of-state of other nations doing a coochie-coochie-coo with the chins of members of their armed forces?

Or is this the secret fantasy of all the Serjolites, to be groped by him?

That is because someone like you will never understand the way we are and you have no right to insults to our President and it just shows that you have no class.
Time for your nap cat.

[Eddo211]

Re: Elections in Armenia

Interesting twist of events.

We have to remember that the courts ( including the supreme court ) “are” independent. (According to the Armenian Constitution)

This argument falls into the trap that our courts are not independent.

Source of many complaints that our courts are open to manipulation by oligarchs and generally money and influence etc.

Serj used the supreme court to remind the Turks that there is a clause in the Armenian constitution that specifically states in short that the current borders with Turkey is NOT recognized...no President is above that including himself. Politically it was an Ace that he pulled at the right time

Why did he tour the diaspora and tried to sell the idea.
All could have been done without leaving Yerevan.

It was very good that he did that.....for the first time a President of Armenia showed that Armenia is for all Armenians. Another good political move. Think about it man.